May 20, 2024 to Tucumcari, NM


 In general a good day.  Scheduled for 110 miles.   I went 77 and then took a van to hotel 🏨.   I felt ok, but was afraid of the wind direction ⬆️ for the final 33 miles.   Wind was at least 15 mph generally from the rear or the side.  Nice!   In fact there was a 10 mile stretch where I averaged 19 mph.   Including a stop to take pictures.   Here are photos from beginning of ride up to first rest stop.
Grasslands when we left, virtually no other growth.
I wish I knew name of those mountain 🏔️ with the snow.   They have been in the pictures for days now!
As I understand it, the road we are on is one of the most isolated desolate roads in the country.   My guess is I saw 20? trucks and cars in the 65 miles I rode.

First rest stop was at abandoned gas station which was used in the film "No Country For Old Men".



After rest had some great downhill runs.   See below 👇 
And I thought we were out of the mountains.

Some beautiful terrain again today.

Onward to second rest stop for uncrustables and chips for lunch .




That's what we zoomed down.
On to rest stop #3.




I stopped riding at 77.   Felt ok, but tiring.   Knew it would be a difficult 33 miles in.   Was afraid that the wind or road direction would change and I'd have headwinds or quartering headwind.   Tomorrow is scheduled for 97 miles too.   Didn't want to shell myself.   Still a looong way to go.   Just when I think I'm riding myself into shape too!

Had 2730 of uphills today, at least 1/2 of that was in first 12 miles.   4760 of downhills, nice!  Like I said.   I had a good ride, much with the wind.  Along the way saw a big fat dead rattlesnake in the road 🛣️.   One of the guys actually took a picture of a 🐻 bear!    I hope to somehow get a copy of that!

Much of our route the last couple weeks has been on old route 66.    Looking at all of the old closed hotels and diners in many of these communities makes me wonder what it must have been like back in the the hey day.    Some of the places look like they would have been pretty neat!    I guess the interstate system killed them all off.   Sad, really.

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